The Aphotic Zone

ocean · deep sea · darkness · extreme environment

Pitch black darkness. The aphotic zone starts where less than 1 percent of sunlight can reach, making it darker than the darkest night on land. It's the zone farthest down in oceans and deep lakes.

Strange glowing creatures. Animals living here have adapted in amazing ways, like making their own light through bioluminescence or having giant eyes to catch any tiny bit of light.

No plants survive here. Plants need sunlight to grow, so the aphotic zone has no algae or seaweed. Instead, animals survive by eating dead stuff that sinks from above or hunting each other.

Starts very deep down. In the ocean, the aphotic zone usually begins around 1,000 meters down, which is deeper than four Eiffel Towers stacked on top of each other.

Freezing cold waters. The aphotic zone is also incredibly cold, with temperatures just above freezing, making it one of the harshest places on Earth.